COMMUNITY

Our People

Sagamok Anishnawbek is a community of Anishnawbek people located on the north shores of Lake Huron at the mouth of the living Spanish River system.

Our people are intimately connected to the fruitful lands and waters located within their traditional territories - with whom they've lived and maintained as stewards since time immemorial.

We are conscious of our relationships, valuing our interdependencies and connectedness with each other - our immediate and extended families located in our community and across the boundaries of communities along the north shore - and with living beings and systems in the natural and spiritual worlds.

By our nature, we are beings that have a spiritual connection with each other and all beings in Creation. We also have a covenant with the Creator, to protect the lands and waters that were given to us. We accept responsibility as stewards of all the living ecosystem and all the beings that inhabit them and with who we co-exist. Creator gave us Manito Aki Inaakonigawin (Great Earth Law) and teachings, along with our ceremonies, language and other medicines so that we can fulfill our stewardship function. We have a sacred trust from the Creator to protect the land, water and resources and to use the land in a sustainable manner. We are bound by the Anishnawbek laws and customs that tell us to live in harmony with the lands, waters and resources, as well as with other people.

We carry Anishinabe’idodwin, the way and teachings of the Anishninabe on how to live, given to us by the Grandfathers to apply to the way we live our lives as Anishinaabe people.

Nibwaakwaawin: To cherish knowledge is to know wisdom. Wisdom is given by Creator to be used for the good of our people.

Zaagi’idiwin: To know peace is to know love that is unconditional. When people are weak they need love the most.

Minaadendamowin: To honour all of creation is to have respect. You need to give respect if you want to be respected.

Aakode’ewin: Bravery is to face a foe with integrity, having a fearless heart.

Gwayakwaadiziwin: Facing a situation with honesty is to be brave. You should always be honest with your words and your action. Be honest with yourself first and you will be more easily able to be honest with others.

Dabaadendiziwin: Humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of creation. We’re all different from each other, but not better than any others; we are all equally a part of creation.

Debwewin: Truth is to know all these things. Seek the truth, speak the truth and don’t deceive yourself or others.

We pass on Anishinabe’idowin to each generation and it manifests itself in us as a people as Mino Bimaadiziwin, the good way to live life. We apply these teachings to the way that we communicate with each other – especially through the use of our language, Anishinaabemowin. We also apply them to Inendamowin (how we view the world) and Gikendaasowin (how we understand knowledge). In relating to others, these teachings guide Inaadiziwin (how we act), Izhichigwein (how we do things) and Enawendizen (how we relate to everything). They also keep us aware of our connections and responsibility to our lands, waters and environment (Gidakiimainaan).

There are some words that describe us very well as people. We are a kind community of kind individuals. We care about each other and the relationships that bind us together in so many different ways. It is the care that we take in maintaining our relationships amongst each other that makes us resilient and capable as individuals and as a community. Stories of our people's resilience are told in successive editions of the Sagamok Community Story,

Sagamok Anishnawbek has a historic nation-to-nation relationship with the Crown through the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850 and continues to exist as a self-governing nation within their treaty territory.

The treaty relationship with the Crown is based on Anishnawbek inherent rights and Aboriginal sovereignty within Sagamok Anishnawbek treaty territory.

Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada (recognize and respect).

We are of the land.

Our Leadership

Sagamok Anishnawbek has an inherent right to govern itself and our traditional territories under Wegimaawadizid (Our way of governance). Wegimaawadizin is an inherent right that flows from our relationship with the Creator and has survived despite our relationship with the Ga Ogimagandawinangwa (the Crown) and the creation of Canada.

We believe that the foundation of good governance is inclusive of all community members and involving dialogue; we talk with our people, making decisions MamoweInendamowin (in a way where everyone’s views are listened to, so that everyone can support a final decision). Every contribution from our members counts and is welcomed.

Our Gagikinawadaginzowad, Chief and Council, are a body of Mdaaswi-shi-niish (12) Ga’aginzod and Bezhik (1) Gimaa who are elected to a Niish (2) year term.